Indigenous health 'a national scandal'

Professor Judy Atkinson has joined a number of Australian organisations and individuals to protest Australias indigenous health crisis.

In a recent full-page petition in The Australian, the lobby group stated that it was unacceptable that indigenous children were dying at almost three times the rate of non-indigenous children.

The petition also said it was inconceivable that a country as wealthy as Australia could not solve a health crisis affecting less than three per cent of its population.

The lobby group is calling for all Australian governments to commit to a plan of action to achieve health equality for indigenous people within 25 years.

Professor Atkins applauded the initiative of the group and said it was a fantastic first step, however, she hoped it would also draw attention to what has yet to be addressed the impact of trauma, child sexual abuse and mental health issues on indigenous families.

The petition said in part: It is a national scandal that indigenous Australians live 17 years less than other Australians. Indigenous Australians continue to needlessly suffer and die early, not from a lack of solutions or government commitments, but from a lack of political will and action.

Joining Professor Atkinson in the lobby group are leading organisations such as Oxfam, Amnesty International, Australian Red Cross, Save the Children Australia, UNICEF Australia and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.